Patent GB-190302162-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Electric Ignition Apparatus.
Inventor: LODGE OLIVER JOSEPH
Filed: 1903-01-29
Granted: 1904-01-28
Abstract: 2162. Lodge, O. J., and Lodge, A. M. Jan. 29. Means for producing fire.-Ignition in oil engines blasting, and elsewhere, is effected by electric spark discharge in a gap B, connected with an electric condenser circuit, when discharge occurs in another gap A, which may be always accessible. Any suitable apparatus may be employed. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the primary winding a of an induction coil is supplied with current from a battery c, a trembler c', and a revolving circuit-closer e, the usual primary condenser i being provided. The induction coil is surrounded by a glass cylinder 2 carrying four incomplete rings of foil 4 to form two condensers. The secondary winding is preferably in halves, with both ends outside, and the ends are connected to the two inner foils and the gap A. The two outer foils 4 are connected to the gap B, optionally with earth in the circuit as shown. The two outer foils are also connected together by a leak v, such as to allow the condensers to charge, but offering resistance to sudden discharge, so that discharge occurs mainly at the gap B. The leak v may be a piece -of maple wood, a liquid resistance, an inductance, or charred particles. Separate small leyden jars may be used instead of the condensers 2, 4. Fig. 3 shows an arrangement using only one leyden jar n. This is connected to the ends of the secondary winding b of the induction coil, and also to the gaps A, B in series, optionally with earth connections as shown. The gap B may be shunted by a leak v, to prevent any electrostatic strain occurring in the gap B until discharge occurs at the gap A. The leak may be earthed as shown at v<1>. In this arrangement, the circuit-closer in the primary circuit is a spring c<1>, which vibrates when released by a cam e<1>, no separate trembler being used. For obtaining ignition sparks in two or more places alternately, a number of gaps B may be placed in series between the outer coatings 4 of the two condensers, Fig. 2, and a commutator revolved in contact with springs to short-circuit all the gaps but one at a time ; or the gaps B may be in parallel, or series-parallel, each being in circuit with a separate inductance to prevent the commutator from short-circuiting the whole of the discharge conductors. In any arrangement, the leyden jars may be made with glass, ebonite, or micanite as the dielectric. The insulated conductors may be twisted together to have sufficient capacity, or the induction-coil windings may have sufficient capacity to serve as the condenser. The gap A may be in a sealed glass vessel, or protected by wire gauze. Several gaps B may be connected in series. The battery c and circuit-closer may be replaced by a magneto-electric generator, arranged to give a current when a spark is required ; or an alternating current may be produced by a generator having a revolving magnet, a circuit-closer being used in the primary circuit in series with a primary condenser. The Provisional Specification mentions the application of the invention for submarine mining, and production of spark discharges in water or oil.